Applications open for iZone pre-incubation programme

Applications are open for the inaugural iZone pre-incubation programme for Zimbabwean entrepreneurs, aimed at helping to create sustainable youth businesses which contribute to Zimbabwe’s economy.

The iZone pre-incubation programme is dedicated to youth entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 35 who require personalised support to grow their startups and small businesses. Participants of the iZone pre-incubation programme are required to attend seven monthly workshops between May and November.

According to iZone, “We believe exposing our incubator clients to a combination of modern business skills, financial literacy, the use of technology and linkages to the entrepreneurial ecosystem will result in the building of innovative, sustainable enterprises and economic development. Our success metric is not numbers, but sustainable youth businesses”.

The seven month programme would train participants in technical and business skills, supported by a network of entrepreneurs in residence. Participants will go through 25 mandatory practical assignments, covering themes ranging from the process of idea generation, through to formalizing, validating, monetizing and scaling a business.

At the close of the programme, startups will pitch for funding at Zimbabwe’s inaugural Startup and Small Business Symposium, to be held during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2015.

The iZone programme is open to Zimbabweans between the ages 18 and 35. Applicants must be able to show previous participation in a startup / small business / business plan competition, and must be able to provide a certificate or recommendation letter relating to the participation, as well as have a draft business model canvas.